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    Photo via Voice of America Journal (VOA).
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Published on Thursday, January 9, 2025 By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
In a
statement, Morningstar-DBRS credit rating
service, citing Los Angeles fire officials,
said the fires have destroyed more than
1,100 homes and threatened more than 28,000
structures.
The
organization, which monitors and evaluates
risk, said it expects the wildfires to have
an adverse but manageable impact on
California property insurers.
The
California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection, in its latest report, said the
five active fires in the Los Angeles area
have so far burned nearly 11,000 hectares of
land.
In a
statement Thursday, the White House said
President Joe Biden was briefed on the
latest impact of the wildfires. Following
the memorial service for former President
Jimmy Carter, Biden will convene senior
administration officials for a briefing on
the full federal response directed to the
wildfires.
Biden
has approved a federal emergency declaration
for California to release federal money and
resources to help battle the wildfires.
The
White House said late Wednesday that Biden
canceled a planned trip to Italy to “remain
focused on directing the full federal
response in the days ahead.”
“We are prepared to do everything and anything, as long as it takes, to contain these fires and help reconstruct and ensure we get back to normal. It’s going to be a hell of a long way,” Biden said Wednesday. “It’s going to take time.”
More than 130,000 people in the Los Angeles area were under evacuation orders early Thursday as firefighters battled multiple major wildfires that already killed at least five people.
The fires have torn through some of the world's most lavish real estate and showbiz landmarks instantly recognizable around the world. Pictures posted to social media Thursday show beachfront property burned to the ground. The homes of movie stars and celebrities were among those consumed by flames. A new, fast-moving fire broke out late Wednesday in the Hollywood Hills, prompting the latest round of orders for people to flee to safety. Meteorologists said the dry conditions and strong winds conducive to the breakout and spread of the fires are expected to remain in place through Friday. High wind gusts had forced the grounding of planes used to help fight the fires, but officials said Wednesday the winds had eased enough for those operations to resume. Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustine said he was confident the improved conditions would allow them to begin to control the fire. While authorities had warned of the potential for wildfires in the Los Angeles area given the conditions this week, the blazes were more extensive than anticipated. “The L.A. County Fire Department was prepared for one or two major brush fires, but not four, especially given these sustained winds and low humidities,” L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Wednesday. In addition to the Hollywood area, there were active fires in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena and Sylmar. Thousands of hectares have burned, and the fire is continuing to spread. While two thousand National Guard members have been deployed to help local firefighters. In the Pacific Palisades, the fire jumped from one house to the next, pushed by hurricane-force winds. In the same area, firefighters said hydrants had run dry. “We had a tremendous demand on our system in the Palisades,” said Janisse Quinones, chief executive and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. “We pushed the system to the extreme.” The call for water was “four times the normal demand for 15 hours straight,” she said.
---------------- What have you heard about expats struggling with issues during the California fire emergency? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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